Two sets of arms wrapping around me, burying me in a crushing hug. The first pair higher, and then, some moments later, the second pair wrapping around.
“What-”
Riley and Wolfe had come in from both sides.
“You came out here because of your sister,” says Riley.
“That's so brave, I had no idea,” says Wolfe.
Trying to subtly extricate myself, but both of them only hugging tighter. Smaller than both of them, too. Having no choice but to gently return their hugs.
It had been a lifetime ago. Beyond a stray thought here or there, hadn't seriously thought about her in years. Well, before using her existence as a convenient cover last night with Charity. By now she'd probably be – realization setting in, going numb – about the same age as this girl, or thereabouts. Hugging them back with more force, my vision getting a bit blurry but getting it under control. Been crying more in the last three days than in the last three years. An exaggeration, but probably not by much, these last three days haven't exactly been normal. Going to have to talk with Charity next cycle, it was cruel making her think that. Hell, she might even believe me about all this.
Riley and Wolfe releasing their hold. Using a finger to wipe away the slight bit of moisture from my eye.
“Thank you. You guys ready?” Walking a bit further in.
“Wait, Lucy,” says Wolfe, “what job was so in demand that they let you come out here without going to the Academy?”
“Probably Engineering,” says Riley.
“Nah, more important than Engineering. Maintenance. Someone's got to make sure this hunk of junk and all the mining equipment stays running. I mean, that's basically the reason we're out here, collecting materials, refining what we can and shipping everything back. Engineering's been a skeleton crew for awhile now.”
“That's not what-” says Riley, “I mean, sure, there's that, but isn't the mission about making this place hospitable for life?”
“They've been working on that since day one. Don't know if they've made much progress, but I think that dream died with-” With the Bonneville. “I mean, maybe I'm wrong. What are your duty assignments?”
“Admin,” says Riley. Figures. Cleric doing clerical work.
“Uh, I'm in, um,” says Wolfe, uncomfortable. “I'm in the, uh,” Still not wanting to say it. “I'm in the laundry.” Coming out as a whisper. Goddamn, the Academy got them all mixed up. Like doing real work is somehow less admirable than pushing paper.
“Why do you sound so embarrassed?” Rounding on Wolfe and putting my finger in her face. “Don't be. That's important work, this place couldn't function without it.” Taking my hand out of her face. Spooked her. “Sorry. Irritates me.” Taking a deep breath. “What that means is, none of us are responsible for that high end work the scientists are doing. So don't worry about it. Nothing we can do, either way.” Seeing something a short ways away, in the corner of my eye, our quarry. “On your days on, do the job. On your days off, in here, make the most of it.” Wolfe losing her frown, seeming to have recovered from my overly snappish remark. “Anyway, for the next couple hours I need your help. There's one over that way.” Pointing off in the direction of the boar. “I'll take care of bringing them down, you two focus on skinning them and breaking off the tusks. And keep an eye out for anything else that may wander in. Ready?”
The rats had been lower level, and overall pathetic opponents. This was still a low level creature, but higher than me right now, it should be more interesting to fight against. Walking straight at the boar, tossing the hatchet up into the air on the way over, catching it and giving a test swing. Feels nice and light from the rune.
At my approach the boar looking up, quickly gauging me, and then lowering its head to charge. Running at me, almost there, almost barreling into me, and Riley letting out a scream from behind. Activating the Runic Shield, producing the crackling flash of energy. The boar's head hitting the shield, breaking through, but its momentum noticeably slowing, allowing me to easily move to the side and bring the hatchet down onto its head.
It definitely felt that, it can't tell which way is forward anymore, but it didn't go down, not enough strength. Chopping down at the neck twice more, blood splattering from the hits and the animal dropping dead. Not as braindead simple as the rats but not even close to a challenge. Still, hard not to smile. A rivulet of liquid slowly dripping down the side of my face. Turning around and the two girls staring wide eyed. They probably think it seemed like it was going to be a close call. Should let them know everything's fine.
“Okay!” Yelling and waving my hatchet in the air. My smile still covering my entire face and little flecks of red coming off the bloodied blade. “That's one down, start skinning. I'll get that one over there down in the meantime.” The two looking at each other, their mouths moving in conversation for several moments, looking at me again, talking some more, and then starting to come over.
The second boar going down as easily as the first. And the third. After a bit of early hesitation, Riley finally starting to get into her work skinning. Wolfe, meanwhile, using her hammer to knock out the tusks, and then helping Riley to remove the hides. “Is this why you had us wear these jackets?” says Riley. After skinning a couple boars her hands almost as bloody as mine.
“Yep.” Kneeling down next to her and using my knife to help them skin. “This is pretty messy so I thought having something to cover your clothing would be for the best.” Riley forgetting the boar and favoring me with a baleful expression, but then resuming her work. “Oh, there's another, we're making good progress. You guys are really doing great.” The tick hitting. Nine o'clock. Checking my mana and finding that, for the first time, it didn't all come back. Eleven spent on the three weapon enhance runes and one Runic Shield. Eight restored on the tick. So roughly twenty five, thirty percent restored each tick. Good to know.
Getting a bit sloppy on the fourteenth boar, the animal breaking through the shield and battering my right arm. Pulling it into my side to protect it and making an incredible discovery. Didn't need to direct the shield using the arm, just focusing on the area it needs to be is enough. Hacking at the boar's head and bringing it down. A ripped shirt and the herb to heal up. Predicable costs of field work.
“Lucy,” says Wolfe. The girl stopping momentarily at my look, but then clenching her hands and trotting over. “Let me see that.” Reaching out and putting her hands on my injured arm, and then a warm glow removing the pain. That's right, Empath. Should demand a finder's fee for this girl, for training her up. She'll end up going wherever she wants.
“Kate, thank you.”
“I delivered a message to the harbor master yesterday,” she says. “I was wandering around after the delivery and stopped by the temple on the way back. They taught me how to do this.”
Riley watching the exchange, and then returning to the boar she'd been working on.
Recasting the runes on their weapons, and then switching over to my dagger to see if it was more suitable than the axe. After five more boars switching back to the axe. The dagger proved better if the strike had been exactly precise, the kill more elegant. The hatchet couldn't match the potential precision, but the weight of the weapon tended to disorient the animal on the first strike, allowing the second and, if necessary, third hit to land easily.
Twenty seventh boar down, almost half after ten. The last kill had been rough, running entirely on fumes, and my muscles aching from fatigue. More involved fights than the rats, by far. Actually had to dodge around and put some effort into the hits. And, at twenty seven, likely exceeded our combined carrying capacity about five boars ago.
“Alright, that's it for the day.” Yelling out. “You guys did great. Let's get everything together and then figure out how we're going to get it back.”
Wolfe looking over from the boar corpse she'd been working on, her face dripping sweat. She'd split her time between helping Riley skin, knocking out and collecting the boar tusks, and taking care of the occasional Tree Sprite that had wandered in, maybe about seven total. The girl walking to the place we'd been putting the gathered tusks and hides.
Riley looking over, also with sweat dripping from her face. After skinning the first few boars she'd stopped trying to get the blood off her hands, and they were covered. Looking at me for a moment, and then resuming her work on the boar. Using my hatchet to remove the tusks from number twenty seven, and then depositing them in the pile. Riley still there, working away. Dropping the hatchet and heading toward her.
“Hey Evie, we're done. Good work.” Glancing up, taking a deep breath and then letting it out. Not making an effort to stand. “Evie.” Getting closer to her and holding my arms out, the color of my hands matching hers. “Come here.” Looking at me. Not standing. Kneeling down and putting my arms around her in a hug. “I know I asked a lot from you today.” Nodding, biting her lip. “But you really came through, thank you.” Nodding again. “Let's get going, huh?” Looking at my offered hand, and then taking it.
The pile just under fifty boar tusks and twenty two hides. Between the two sacks, and my pack, managing to fit all the tusks and nineteen of the hides. Heading south in the direction of the Great Western Road, leaving the last three to rot. Ten minutes, and three Tree Sprites later, arriving at one of the currently shallow rivers, more a stream given the season, that lined the area and emptied out into the ocean. Using the opportunity to clean off all the mess from our hands and my face. Riley even managing to wash away the last vestiges of her grimace. Fording the stream at a shallow point nearby and seeing something in the water, but making it to the other side. Turning around to investigate, and then the thing surfacing, a small, discolored, ugly old woman. A Water Hag.
“What's that?” says Wolfe.
“A monster. Not too dangerous. I'll wait for it to make the first move and then cut it down.”
The hag letting out a gurgling cackle, starting to move its arm in a pattern, casting a spell. Conjuring a bolt of water and throwing it directly at me. Runic Shield ready to interpose, but then the bolt traveling right through, completely unaffected, and smacking me square in the stomach, dropping me on my ass and knocking the wind out of me.
“Lucy!” Wolfe saying, in surprise.
“Forget it.” Trying to catch my breath, trying to scramble back to my feet, the heavy pack making it more difficult. Both of them helping me up. “Run.” The hag cackling and starting to cast another spell. Running south, the ensuing bolts of water from the hag sailing by, missing their marks. Pulling up the Runic Shield description. Doesn't affect magical bolt spells. Hitting the Great Western Road at a dead run, the hag well behind us, travelers and merchants giving us amused looks, with some of them giving me looks of suspicion.
“If that wasn't dangerous I don't want to meet something that is,” says Riley.
Heaving a huge sigh of relief, and then sharing a laugh while catching our breaths. Hitching a ride on the back of a merchant wagon heading east toward Lumeer, visible in the distance, and arriving at the West Gate at about a quarter after eleven. Getting to the furrier just inside the gates and cashing out all the hides and tusks, roughly eight silver per hide, three and a half silver per tusk. Grand total of three hundred twenty one silver and some copper, for an easy division of one oh seven each.
Sitting at a table outside of the restaurant they had chosen for lunch, relaxing under the shade of a tree. The restaurant, one of many lining the streets of the guild district, owned and operated by some of our people. While hunting is the simplest and, likely, quickest path to financial independence, it's difficult work. The vast majority of us made a living via trade, running businesses or working for someone else in town. Most live okay, comfortable, basic necessities are relatively cheap. A small few like Sam, with his enterprise, or Melder, with his plantation, had achieved obscene amounts of wealth. The waitress bringing out the food and putting it in front of us.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
“So what'd I say? More money in half the time. Done by lunch.”
“You did,” says Wolfe. “And we are. The funniest thing today, when you showed Evie how to skin. Evie your face was priceless.” Taking a bite of her meal. “This is great.”
“No,” says Evie, “the funniest thing was your face when we first got there and Lucy went all axe murderer. What'd you say? Something about pigs.”
Wolfe putting a hand over her mouth, considering Riley for a moment, and then swallowing. “I think I said, 'that poor piggy'.” Riley giggling and Wolfe shooting me a guarded glance.
“What can I say? It's only thanks to those pigs that we're able to enjoy this.”
“Now that is absolutely true.” Riley keeping her smirk and lifting her glass. “In that case, I dedicate this meal to all those poor little butchered piggies.”
“I'll definitely toast to that.” Lifting up my glass.
Wolfe blinking a couple times and the corner of her mouth lifting. Raising hers, as well.
Taking a drink and then taking a taste of my lunch. The curry had been on special, had ordered it not expecting much, but it's exactly right. Haven't tasted this flavor in years. “You guys made the right call on this restaurant, this is phenomenal.” Beckoning the waitress over. “This is fantastic, I've got to talk to the chef, I didn't know we had anything like this available here.”
“Glad to hear,” she says. “My husband's put a lot of work into that dish. I'll let him know how much you like it.”
Taking a few more spoonfuls as she walked away into the building. Now this meal right here is actually delicious, definitely puts that cold stew to shame.
“Hey, Evie, how're you?” a voice from a passerby on the street. A group of newbies, several guys. “How'd your day go? Weren't you going to be doing deliveries?”
Riley and Wolfe had discarded their coats on the ground next to the table, but their clothing still had some of the stains of today's work. My shirt in particular, even with the dark color, and even with the slick material, had obvious bloodstains.
“Hey Jack, good to see you.” Riley sounding elated. “We took a trip outside the city. This place is really something.”
“It really is. Hey, so what are your plans for the gala, you think you're going to be able to come?” More brainpower wasted about this stupid gala. Ah well, no reason to rain on their parade.
“Yeah, can't wait,” she says. “Hey Kate, Lucy, you guys have plans for the gala?”
Wolfe shaking her head.
“Hadn't been planning on it.”
“Excuse me, miss,” a voice to my side, a man wearing an apron, the chef from the restaurant. “I heard you were enjoying the curry and you wanted to talk to me.”
Riley continuing her conversation with the group of guys. Wolfe looking back and forth, listening to both conversations, them, and me talking with the chef.
“This is really great.” Using my spoon to tap the plate. “The best curry I've had in years.”
“Very glad to hear that,” he says, smiling broadly.
“I was wondering about the spices, though. How'd you source them? Did Melder or someone come up with something recently, or what?”
“Nothing like that. They're from out west, past the mountains and across the desert. House Ishtar started escorting a caravan out there a couple times a year and a friend of mine went out with them the last time they went. Because of that curry, and some of the other dishes I've been making, he's probably got orders from half the restaurants in town for when they head out again in a couple cycles.”
“I can definitely see why.”
“Very glad to here that.” Beaming at the compliment. “Ladies, bon appetite.” The chef heading back into the building.
Glancing over at Riley. She's still talking to those guys, and it sounds like they're gossiping about some of their classmates. Not my concern. Bringing my spoon down to get some more food, and then twelve noon, the tick hitting. Level 4. Rune of Deflection. Three curving, sort of squiggly, lines with cracks. Guess that kind of makes sense. Rune of Accuracy still looks the same and, oh, Runic Shield changed. Was a bit crooked before but now they've changed into curved spirals. Thought he said it should square up, but here it's gone completely the other direction.
Reaching into a pocket and producing the piece of charcoal. Putting my hand flat on the table and redrawing the new shape of the rune. Breathing steady, focus, trickle of mana and there. The refreshed shield springing into existence around me, translucent and then fading to transparent. Seems to look the same as ever, but have to test and see if anything changed.
The flash of magic drawing the attention of Wolfe, Riley, and the people she'd been speaking with.
“Lucy, I swear, we can't take you anywhere,” says Riley. “Hey, say you're going to be able to go, it'll be a lot of fun. C'mon, please.”
What in the hell is she even talking about? Great, and the peanut gallery is all watching me now, too. “Sure thing, sounds like fun, can't wait.” Whatever floats your boat, lady. One of the guys flashing a smile at me.
“Kate, you're in, right?” says Riley.
Wolfe saying something, but not my concern. Level 4, mental stats went up. Add new skills. Done.
Name: Lucilia Macarthy Profession: Runemage Level: 4 Sex: Female Experience: 8,726 (13,844) Age: 20 Until Next: 2,274 Health 41 Mana 36 Stamina 22 Spirit 8 Strength (STR) 54 (2) Constitution (CON) 61 (5) Dexterity (DEX) 66 (13) Agility (AGI) 85 (17) Discipline (DIS) 74 (12) Aura (AUR) 78 (14) Logic (LOG) 69 (14) Intuition (INT) 72 (16) Wisdom (WIS) 42 (-4) Influence (INF) 74 (12)
Name Trainings Bonus Armor Use 5 25 Physical Fitness 5 25 Simple Weapons 5 25 Arcane Symbols 10 45 Magic Item Use 5 25 Harness Power 5 25 Mana Control 5 25 Runemancy 5 25 Arcane Lore, Shaping 5 25 Perception 5 25 Climbing 5 25 Swimming 5 25 First Aid 5 25 Trading 5 25 Stalking and Hiding 5 25
And with the money from today, the most pressing question, cloak or armor. Underground would necessitate the cloak, but out here, probably not. Going to test Rune of Deflection. If it can be applied to clothing, the cloak, otherwise, the armor.
“Okay, we'll see you.” Riley waving at the guys and them waving back as they headed on their way. Wolfe glancing at me, then back to Riley and giving a nod. Riley nodding back and then both turning to me.
“Lucy,” says Riley, “you've done a lot for us these past couple days.”
“Yeah, you definitely have,” says Wolfe.
“And I know we've just met,” says Riley, “but I want to be your friend, and I want to return the favor.”
“I'd like to try and help, too,” says Wolfe. “If you'll let me.”
“I mean,” says Riley, “I don't know everything you were doing before you came to this place, but I think it's pretty clear, whatever it was, you've had a pretty rough time.”
“A couple times today you seemed really on edge. And very alone,” says Wolfe. “I don't want you to be like that.”
“So, friends?” Riley putting out her hand, as did Wolfe.
They want to help me? How adorable. A five year old wanting to help daddy do chores. Yes, sweetie, here you go, thank you. Wow, what a big help you are. Reaching out my hands to grasp theirs, preparing to deliver a canned response, but then, on contact, a surge of emotion forcing me to hold on for dear life. The actual meaning behind their words catching up, and the earnest appeal revealing the hollowness of my instinctive, self destructive, dismissal, and the lonely, desolate place from which it had come.
“I'd really like that. Thank you.”